HongKong are the last of the six participants for Asia Cup 2018 in United Arab Emirates. Undoubtedly the most trivialized team are in strong group of India and Pakistan.
It’s only the third main event at the Asia Cup for the Chinese nation, where the cricket team is mostly dominated by South Asians like Pakistanis. They took part in 2004 and 2006 ODI Asia Cups in Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
HongKong have gained ODI status from the International Cricket Council (ICC) only for this tournament. They lost their four-year lasting status when they failed in the World Cup Qualifiers in Zimbabwe this year.
HongKong qualified for the main event of Asia Cup after beating United Arab Emirates in the final of Asia Cup Qualifiers in Malaysia. Skipper Anshuman Rath, batsman Babar Hayat, spinners Nadeem Ahmed and Ehsan Khan were the stars in the tournament. Anshuman was the fourth-leading run-scorer while Nadeem was the joint-second highest wicker-taker.
Group A’s HongKong will face Pakistan in the second match of Asia Cup at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on September 16. Two days later they will take on mighty Indians at the same ground.
From the past, HongKong have sweet memories of beating Bangladesh in a World T20 match in Dhaka back in 2014.
HongKong squad: Anshuman Rath (captain), Aizaz Khan, Babar Hayat, Cameron McAulsan, Christopher Carter, Ehsan Khan, Ehsan Nawaz, Arshad Mohammad, Kinchit Shah, Nadeem Ahmed, Nizakat Khan, Raag Kapur, Scott McKechnie, Tanveer Ahmed, Tanwir Afzal, Waqas Khan, Aftab Hussain.
